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: 1995 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

1995 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

SKU #110248 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark This wine is already showing exceptionally well, even though it is not close to its plateau of maturity. The deep ruby/purple color is followed by scents of roasted herbs intermixed with sweet black currant fruit, truffles, vanillin, and minerals. Lush, with ripe cassis fruit on the attack, outstanding balance, medium body, and layers of intensity, this is an elegant, graceful, smoothly textured, beautifully made Bordeaux. (RP) Inner quote mark (2/1998)

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Very good deep red. Warm, inviting aromas of plums, hot bricks, leather and spice. Lush and expansive in the mouth, with smoke and plum flavors. Subtle flavor really expands on the finish. Tannins are quite suave. A lovely drink. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/1998)

90 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Aromas of blackberries, with hints of cedar and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, with silky, firm tannins and a medium finish. Needs time still. (JS, Web Only-2007) Inner quote mark

Jancis Robinson

Outer quote mark Dark blackish ruby. Sweet, harmonious and energetic on the nose. A more interesting nose than the 1996. Smells SO much more youthful than the 1990. Sweet start and flattering but at its peak. 17/20 points. (JR) Inner quote mark (3/2015)

K&L Notes

91 points, Neal Martin's Wine Journal: "Tasted at the chateau. A garnet/mahogany core with some degradation on the brick rim. A rather rustic, fleshy, savoury nose with dried herbs, a touch of cedar and tree bark. The palate is medium-bodied, slightly coarse tannins, good acidity, animally, a little herbaceous and smoky with a tarry, graphite, woody finish. A little anachronistic compared to the style today, but this is full of charm and joie-de-vivre. Drink with joy." (09/2008)

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1995 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

Price: $149.99

Quantity:

RP: 90

ST: 90

WS: 90

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them.

Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

Specific Appellation:

Pessac-Leognan/Graves

- Graves is the large red and white wine region located to the southeast of the city of Bordeaux along the Garonne River. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the red wines from the area, while the whites are mixtures of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The most important area within the Graves is the village of Pessac-Leognan. Most of the great chateaux, including Haut Brion, a premier cru and the only wine outside of the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, are located in this small appellation. Graves derives its name from the rocky, stony terrain of the region. Many people believe that the stony soil radiates the day's heat at night and thus makes the grapes ripen earlier than the other regions in Bordeaux.